B65G2201/00—Indexing codes relating to handling devices, e.g. conveyors, characterised by the type of product or load being conveyed or handled

B65G2201/02—Articles

B65G2201/0235—Containers

B65G2201/0244—Bottles

Abstract

A set of automatic handling line guide rails (10), comprising a guide rail (16, 17) that defines the perimeter of a trajectory of a container when it is transported along part of an automatic handling line, where the trajectory and, therefore, the perimeter are generally curved around a center and are positioned in a radius from the center, in which: the guide rail is radially movable to define the perimeter in a plurality of substantially different radii from the same center; the guide rail comprises at least three segments (40, 41, 42), a first segment (40) that can be operated in a substantially radial direction and a second segment (41) that is connected to the first segment by a link and a third segment (42) that is connected to the second segment by a second link, such that the second and third segments follow the movement of the first segment; characterized in that the first and second segments and the second and third segments are arranged in overlapping overlapping and are provided with a sliding link (46, 62) between overlapping positions to allow relative circumferential movement between the first and second segments and the second and third segments as the segments move radially in and out.

Description

Line guide rail set
automatic manipulation

The present invention relates to a set
of automatic handling line guide rails according
with the preamble of claim 1.

A typical application of the present invention
it will be in a bottling line, in which a container, such as a
bottle, can be rinsed first, then filled, capped and
labeled. Each of these processes is usually performed by
a separate machine in different locations along the
automatic handling line. The containers are transported
between the various machines along trajectories generally
linear and are presented and removed from the various machines at
length of curved paths, in which the spacing between
The packaging is regulated to adapt to the required spacing
of the processing machine using a wheel assembly of
Star and guide rail.

A combination of star wheel assembly
and guide rail is described in our patent application
British published No. GB0322492.0. Essentially, a set of
guide rails define the outer limit of a path
curved along which the bottles are transported by the
star wheel A set of guide rails comprises
generally lower and upper guide rails that support a
container at two heights. As the name suggests, a wheel of
Star is a spinning wheel of a general star shape,
the star shape being defined by a plurality of recesses
They receive a container that must be processed. In our application
published, breaks are defined by the periphery of a couple
of upper and lower plates and in pairs of opposite tongues
They contact the containers. In operation, the wheel of
star rotates in such a way that the first bottle presents the
Star wheel is received in a recess and is contacted
by the lingues. The container is then transported along
a path defined by the star wheel and the rail of
guide that extends around and is spaced from the line
center of the path to be fed after departure to a
processing machine As will be appreciated, the spacing of
the recesses in the star wheel determines the spacing with
that the containers are passed to the machine.

It is likely that a treatment line
particular automatic process containers that have a variety of
different shapes and sizes. Traditionally, shapes and sizes
Different packages have needed a range of sets of
star wheels and different guide rails, which have
shapes and sizes that correspond to the particular packages that
They can be processed. A change of packaging required a change that
it required a lot of time in the sets of star wheels and of
guide rails An improvement in this provision is described in
Our published patent application referenced above.
In that request, both the star wheel and the set of
Guide rails are adjustable. The lingues of the wheel of
Star rotate to allow the reception of larger containers and the
guide rail can also be moved closer and further from the
star wheel

Generally, when the containers are
transported along an automatic handling line, the
exact path they should follow is dictated by the point
central of the container. The reason for this is best illustrated by considering
a filling machine that must pour liquid through the neck of a
bottle. Clearly, the center of the neck should be in the same
position, regardless of bottle size. Agree
with it, it is desirable that the star wheel and the set of
guide rails are adjustable, so that they can be
transport different sizes of bottles along the line of
manipulation with their centers going along the path
required between the star wheel and the rail set of
guide.

An example of a set of guide rails
adjustable according to the preamble of claim 1 is
provided by the document
EP-A1-0.412.059, in which half
of the star wheel is enclosed by a two guide rail
parts, each part comprising approximately 90 °. Both
halves are connected at their ends adjacent to a plate a
through a pair of vertical pins around the
which can turn the guide rails. The plate and, therefore,
the proximal ends of each half of the guide rails can
be driven radially towards the center of the star wheel.
The distant ends of each half of the guide rail are
provided with angled grooves that receive another vertical pin.
Therefore, when the plate is radially actuated, the
proximal ends move radially, but the ends
distant move inward with radial components and
substantially equal tangentials. This tangential component of
movement is not desirable, since it moves the center point of the
guide rail formed in a semicircle outside the center point of the
star wheel, so that it can be aligned concentrically
Only in one position.

Other examples of guide rails are found
in WO 2004/074142, which is the agreement document
with Article 54 (3) EPC, US 5,291,988, US 6,378,695 and CH
431,377.

Against this background and from the first
aspect, the present invention is based on a set of rails
of automatic handling line guide, comprising a rail
of guide that defines the perimeter of a trajectory of a container
when it is transported along part of a line of
automatic manipulation, where the trajectory and, therefore, the
perimeter are generally curved around a center and are
positioned within a radius from the center, in which the lane of
guide is radially movable to define the perimeter in a
plurality of different radios substantially from the same
center; the guide rail comprises at least three segments, a
first segment that can be operated in one direction
substantially radial and a second segment that is connected to the
first segment by a link and a third segment that is
connected to the second segment by a second link, in such a way
that the second and third segments follow the movement of the
first segment; and the first and the second segments and the second and
the third segments are arranged in overlapping overlap and
they are provided with a sliding link between overlap positions
to allow relative circumferential movement between the
first and second segments and second and third segments to
as the segments move radially inwards and towards
outside.

Such a provision is clearly beneficial, since
which can be used in combination with a star wheel, of
such that only a single trajectory is followed by the
rotating star wheel and guide rail assembly
static, regardless of how they are adjusted (for example,
to accommodate containers of different sizes). This is in contrast
with the prior art arrangement described above
which does not allow a concentric adjustment.

The use of a segmented guide rail is useful
since it allows more flexibility on a guide rail of a
single piece A segmented guide rail may suffer, on the other
part of the weak point that it is difficult to maintain its shape while
moves but out by the means of guidance employed in this
invention. Using a means of liaison and guidance, only one of
the segments have to be powered, since the segments
remaining are forced to follow by the link and this trajectory
it is also limited by the guide means to ensure that it is
preserved the shape of the guide rail as a whole. The means of
guide can comprise a pillar received inside a slot,
the groove being radially elongated. This provision allows the
radial movement of the guide rail.

Optionally, the first segment is limited
to move radially by other guide means. The other means of
guide can comprise a pillar received inside a slot,
the groove being radially elongated. This also helps
limit the movement of the guide rail to the radial direction.

The first and second segments are arranged
in overlapping overlap, as described above. This
It is advantageous because it allows to preserve the shape of the perimeter when
the guide rail moves. For example, if a guide rail that
defines part of a circle moves inward, the circumference
which form should also be reduced: since the separation between
segments can be reduced with this arrangement, the
general length of the guide rail.

The slide link can comprise a pillar
received inside an elongated slot, the slot being
optionally elongated in a circumferential direction.

Optionally, the first segment is connected
to an actuator arranged to drive the first segment
radially The actuator can comprise a hand wheel mounted
on an axis. The actuator can comprise a zipper and a
pinion, the pinion being mounted on the shaft and the
rack in the radial direction. Alternatively, the actuator
Can comprise a cam arrangement.

Optionally, the set of guide rails
it can also comprise a clamping mechanism that can be
actuated to hold the guide rail in position. The mechanism
clamping can comprise a manual wheel provided on an axle
with cooperative screw threads. The axis can correspond to
pillar of the guide means or other guide means.

The set of guide rails can comprise
optionally, in addition, a position indicator and a scale, in
which one of the position indicator or scale is set to
guide rail to move with it and the other one is fixed on
position. This provides a simple indication of where it is.
adjusted the guide rail.

The first and third segments can be
actuated by respective actuators that are coupled in such
so that the actuation of one actuator drives the other
actuator

Optionally, the actuators are driven by
axles coupled in such a way that the rotation of an axis causes the
rotation of the other axis. Preferably, gear wheels
connected by a chain are mounted on the shafts.

Preferably, the set of guide rails
it also includes a second guide rail similar to the rail of
guide of any one of the preceding claims. This
Provides a more stable support to a container.

The second guide rail can be moved
regardless of the first guide rail or the second lane of
guide can be connected to the first guide rail, so that it
move in unison, with a radius substantially different from the
same center.

So you can more easily understand the
invention, reference can now be made only by way of
example to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a
set of automatic handling line guide rails
according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the assembly
of guide rails in figure 1 from above and from the front.

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the assembly
of guide rails in figure 1 from above and from behind.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the assembly
of guide rails in figure 1, with the top plate
withdrawal.

Figure 5 is an isometric view of the assembly
of guide rails of figure 1 from above and from the front, with the
upper plate removed.

Figure 6 is an isometric view of the assembly
of guide rails of figure 1 from above and from behind, with
the top plate removed; Y

Figure 7 is an isometric view of the assembly
of guide rails in figure 1 from above and from the front, with
several parts removed to show other characteristics of the
invention.

A set of line guide rails of
automatic manipulation 10 that defines a trajectory generally
curved corresponding to the arc of a circle of approximately
100º is shown in figures 1 to 7. The set of rails
guide 10 comprises an elongated structure, generally flat,
bounded by an upper plate 12 and a lower plate 14
separated by pillars 15. A set of guide rails 10
it also comprises a pair of guide rails 16, 17 that define
the curved front surface. The guide rails 16, 17
they correspond in size and shape and are positioned one 16 by
on top of the other 17. Three manual wheels 18, 20, 22 and an indicator
from position 24 sit in front of the top plate 12.

As you can see better from Figure 3,
one of the manual wheels 18 is mounted on a shaft that is
extends through the top plate 12 to enter a box of
actuators 26. On the axle under the manual wheel 18 is
mounted a drive sprocket 28 that is used to
actuate a chain 30, as best seen in figures 5 and 6. The
other end of chain 30 passes around a cogwheel
driven 32 that is mounted on a shaft that is connected to a
second box of actuators 34, identical to the first box of
actuators 24. The actuator boxes 26, 34 are provided with a
rack and pinion gear. The pinions are provided on
the axle bottoms that also mount the sprockets 28,
32, and the pinions are provided as stems 36 which are
connected to yokes 38. Yokes 38 are connected, in turn, to
guide rails 16, 17, as best seen in figure 7. From
accordingly, the rotation of the manual wheel 18 causes the
guide rails 16, 17 are driven in and out
by the rack and pinion gear of the actuator boxes
26, 34.

The other manual wheels 20, 22 provide
a clamp that is used to secure the guide rails 16,
17 in position. Both manual wheels 20, 22 are provided on
a shaft with a screw thread that, when tightened, holds
together the upper plates 12 and lower 14, interspersing from this
firmly way the components in between to block the
guide rails 16, 17 in position.

As you can see better from Figure 5,
the guide rails 16, 17 are divided into several parts that
they form the upper guide rails 16 and lower 17, and the
segments left 40, center 41 and right 42. Although the segment
right 42 comprises only one individual element for each
of the upper 16 and lower 17 guides, the left segment 40
it comprises a corresponding element that is joined by means of
pins 43 to a lower tongue 49 '. These 40 'lingues are
positioned to engage with star wheel tongues
positioned the same level as the guide rails 16, 17.

Both guide rails 16, 17 move to
unison in this embodiment by virtue of several pins
that extend between them. For example, pins 44 are
project through opening provided in yokes 38 to be
received in drills provided in the upper guide rails 16
and lower 17. Other pins 46, pass through the rails
of upper guide 16 and lower 17 and provide a link between
adjacent segments. However, in other embodiments
contemplated, the upper 16 and lower 17 guide rails can
be moved independently, that is, each of the
Top 16 and bottom 17 guide rails have their own partner
dedicated of actuator boxes 26, 34, and manual wheel 18 and chain
of drive 30.

As you can see more clearly from the
Figure 4, the left segment 40 is connected to yoke 38 of the
actuator box 34 and the right segment 42 is connected to the
yoke 38 of the actuator box 26. Accordingly, the
left 40 and right 42 segments are actuated to move in
the direction of movement of the stems 36 of the boxes of
actuators 26, 34. The movement of the left segments 40 and
right 42 is also limited by a number of guide members
comprising pillars 48 that pass through openings of a
corresponding width, but with an elongated length
provided in elongated lobes 50 of the left segments 40
and right. The pillars are provided, in fact, by the axes
on which the manual clamping wheels 20, 22 are mounted,
reducing in this way the total number of parts of the set of
guide rails 10. The rods 36 of the actuator boxes 26,
34 and the openings provided in the lobes 50 are elongated in the
radial direction of the arc provided by guide rails 16,
17. Therefore, the left 40 and right 42 segments are
limited to move radially in and out. He
common gear of the sprockets 28, 32 that cooperate with the
drive chain 30 ensures that the left segments 40 and
right 42 move radially at the same speed.

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The central segment 41 comprises an element of
three tiers: the upper 52 and lower 54 tiers comprise plates
at the heights of the upper 16 and lower 17 guide rails
adjacent to the left 40 and right 42 segments, while
the central tier comprises a longer plate that extends to
each side in the gap that separates portions 54 from
top 16 and bottom 17 guide rails of the segments
left 40 and right 42. The center stand 53 includes a tongue
56 on the back that has a pair of slots 58. you are
slots 58 are also elongated in the radial direction and receive
a pair of pins 60. Therefore, the central segment 41
it is also limited to move radially inwards and towards
outside.

The central tier 53 also comprises a
second pair of slots 62 at their ends that receive the
pins 46 holding together the upper guide rails 16 e
bottom 17. The slots 62 are elongated with a width that
corresponds to pins 46 and a longer length that extends
in a generally circumferential direction. Therefore, the
pins 46 provide a link between the left segments
40, central 41 and right 42, such that the rotation of the
manual wheel 18 drives all three segments 40, 41, 42 to
move them radially. Specifically, lie the segments
left 40 and right 42 are powered by boxes of
actuators 26 and 34, the pins 46 that establish contact with the
opening edges 62 force the central segment 41 to follow
the left 40 and right 42 segments. Also, as the
segments 40, 41, 42 are radially actuated, their separation must
increase or decrease as the circumference of the
arch they form. For example, when they are driven inwards,
segments 40, 42, 43 will move together to define a
circumference smaller than the outer limit of the path.
The grooves 62 provided in the central tier 53 of the segment
central 41 allow segments 40, 41, 42 to move inwards
towards each other thus preventing the traffic jam of
mechanism. As will be appreciated, pins 46 simply
they slide along the grooves 62, thus allowing
vary the separation.

Therefore, as the
guide rails 16, 17, the outer limit of the path that
continue the packaging changes in relation to the central path and,
in addition, the circumference of the outer path also changes
to adapt to the change in the radius. This change in
circumference is provided by the extensible interstices
between the left 40 and right 41 segments, and the segments
central 41 and right 42 that allow guide rails 16, 17
together expand and contract as they move
radially

As described above, an indicator
position 24 is provided on top of the set of
guide rails 10. This position indicator 24 comprises a
flat plate with a straight edge that is mounted from an upright
64 which is fixed, in turn, on the back of the tongue 56
of the central stand 53 of the central segment 41. The post 64 is
projects through an opening 66 provided on the top plate
12, thus allowing position indicator 24 to be
move with the middle segment 41. Position indicator 24 is
mounted with the edges of its straight edge above a pair of
scales 68 provided on top plate 12 to allow
determine the position of the guide rails 16, 17.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the form
Previous embodiment can be varied in many ways
different without departing from the appended claims.

Although the previous embodiment has a
set of guide rails that defines a curved path,
Other forms are clearly possible. For example, you can
easily get elliptical shapes, the same as others
serpentine trajectories. A possibility is a trajectory
configured in an S-shape where some segments 40, 41, 42 of the
guide rails 16, 17 will approach more closely, while
the separation of other segments will be increased.

Although the previous embodiment has
a pair of guide rails to support a container at different
heights, any other number of guide rails can be used
16, 17. For example, a single guide rail may be suitable,
particularly if it has a greater height. Alternatively, it
they can use three, four or even more guide rails,
particularly for slender containers or wide containers
variables As mentioned earlier, the lanes of
guide 16, 17 or they can be fixed together to move to
unison or each guide rail can be adjusted so
Independent.

Although the above embodiment employs
guide rails 16, 17 of three segments, clearly can be
Select more segments for any particular purpose.
Clearly, the higher the number of segments, the better in
terms of change in the form of guide rails 16, 17
as they move. This is because each segment
individual 40, 41, 42 has a fixed radius of curvature (selected
to be a maximum value for the required trajectories) and
are the interstices extensible between segments 40, 41, 42 what
which allows to maintain the general form. However, the higher it is
the number of segments, the greater the complexity of the set of
guide rails 10, so there will be a commitment to this
respect. However, many segments can be chosen, being able to
also choose freely the number of segments provided
with a dedicated actuator box 26, 34. More could be foreseen
actuator boxes, such as in a guide rail of five
segments, in which the first, second and fifth segments are
directly operated and the second and fourth segments simply
They follow. Naturally, only one
segment and all other segments could follow.

The above embodiment uses boxes
of actuators that use a rack and pinion system, but
they could also use other means that provide rotation to
linear movement, such as a cam mechanism. For example, it
you can use an eccentrically mounted roller that is used to
push the guide rail segments radially towards
in and out. In addition, it is not necessary to provide an actuator
rotation, such as a manual wheel. You can use others
rotation actuators or even actuators can be used
linear, such as sliding members.

Claims (18)

1. Set of line guide rails
automatic manipulation (10), comprising a guide rail (16,
17) that defines the perimeter of a trajectory of a container when
it is transported along part of a handling line
automatic, where the trajectory and, therefore, the perimeter are
generally curved around a center and are positioned
in a radius from the center, in which:

the guide rail is radially movable for
define the perimeter in a plurality of different radii
substantially from the same center;

the guide rail comprises at least three
segments (40, 41, 42), a first segment (40) that can be
operated in a substantially radial direction and a second
segment (41) that is connected to the first segment by a link and
a third segment (42) that is connected to the second segment by
a second link, such that the second and third
segments follow the movement of the first segment;

characterized in that the first and second segments and the second and third segments are arranged in overlapping overlapping and are provided with a sliding link (46, 62) between overlapping positions to allow relative circumferential movement between the first and second segments and the second and third segments as the segments move radially in and out.

2. The set of guide rails according
with claim 1, wherein the second segment and / or the
third segment are limited to move radially by means of
guide (48).

3. The guide rail of claim 2, in
the guide means that limit the movement of the second and / or
of the third segment comprise a pillar (489 received within a
slot, the slot being radially elongated.

4. The set of guide rails according
with claim 1 or 3, wherein the first segment is
limited to move radially by other guide means (48).

5. The set of guide rails according
with claim 4, wherein the other guiding means
they comprise a pillar (48) received within a groove, the
radially elongated groove.

6. The set of guide rails according
with claim 1, wherein the slide link between the
first and second segments and / or second and third segments
comprises a pillar (46) received within an elongated groove
(62).

7. The set of guide rails according
with claim 6, wherein the slot is elongated in a
circumferential direction

8. The set of guide rails according
with any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the
first segment is connected to an actuator (26) arranged to
Actuate the first segment radially.

9. The set of guide rails according
with claim 8, wherein the actuator comprises a wheel
manual (18) mounted on a shaft.

10. The set of guide rails according
with claim 10, wherein the actuator comprises a
rack and pinion, the pinion being provided on the shaft and being
aligned the zipper in the radial direction.

11. The set of guide rails according
with claim 1, wherein the first and third segments
are actuated by respective actuators (26, 34) that are
coupled in such a way that the actuator drive drives
The other actuator.

12. The set of guide rails according
with claim 11, wherein the actuators are actuated
by axles coupled by a chain (30) that connects sprockets
(28, 32) mounted on the shafts, such that the rotation of
one axis causes the rotation of the other axis.

13. The set of guide rails according
with any one of the preceding claims, which
it also includes a clamping mechanism (20, 22) that can be
actuated to hold the guide rail in position.

14. The set of guide rails according
with claim 13, when it depends on claim 3 or
5, in which the clamping mechanism comprises a manual wheel
(18) provided on an axis, and the axis corresponds to the middle pillar
of guidance or other means of guidance.

15. The set of guide rails according
with any one of the preceding claims, which
it also includes a position indicator (24) and a scale (68),
in which one of the position or scale indicator is set to
guide rail to move with it and the other one is fixed on
position.

16. The set of guide rails according
with any one of the preceding claims, which
It also includes a second guide rail (16, 17) similar to
guide rail of any preceding claim.

17. The set of guide rails according
with claim 16, wherein the second guide rail is
connected to the first guide rail so that they move to
unison.

18. The set of guide rails according
with claim 17, when dependent on claim 6, in
the first and the second guide rails are connected by the
pillar that is received within the elongated slot of the link
slider

Installation for transferring vials i.e. bottles, has external guiding unit fixed in rotational manner, adjustable in radial manner and including guiding rail cooperating with vial driven by rotating drum and elastically mounted on support